Electrolytic timer



Patented Oct. 27, 1925.

UNITED .STATES WARREN F. BLEECKER, OF BOULDER, COLORADO.

l nLEcrnoLYrIc mman.

Application led April 16, 1925. Serial No. 23,611.

To aZZ. lwhom it may concern.'

Be it knownthat I, WARREN F. BmEcKER,

a citizen of the United States -residing at' series with a resistance whereby the electrolyticaction is employed to reduce or eliminate theresistance at the expiration of a predeterminedperiod of time and still another Object is to associate an electrolytic timer with the time-controlled ignition element of an electric bomb of the type used'in shooting oil wells.

With the above and other objects in view,

the timer constructed in accordance with myr invention comprises, essentially, a container an-electrolyte therein, two normally spaced electrodes relatively disposed to gradually bridge the space between them by the electrical deposition of metal on one under electrolytic decomposition, and means for con'- necting the electrodes in an electric circuit, and the bomb to which the timer is particularly applicable is characterized by the use of an electric circuit for the timed ignition of an electricalfulminate cap in a charge of high explosive, all contained in a waterv tight shell adapted to be lowered into a well.

An embodiment of the invention has been illustrated vin the accompanying drawings in the several views of which like parts are similarly designated and in 'which Figure 1 represents a longitudinal section of a timing device constructed in accordance with the invention, drawn to an exaggerated scale;

Figure 2, a similar view of the device in o .the condition .to which it is gradually brought by electrolytic action for the completion of a circuit in which it is connected; Figure 3, a sectional elevation of an'electric bomb for shooting oil wells, to which the invention is a plied; and

Figure 4, a iagrammatic view of the circuit of the instrument shown in Figure 1.

Referring first to' Figures 1 and 2 of the drawmgs, the timer 5 consists of a tubular container 6 made of glass or other nonconductive and chemically resistant material whlch is closed by a cap 7 of-the same or similar qualities.

Conductive stems 8 and 9 passing through openings in the cap and the thereto opposed end'of the container providesupports for two electrodes relativel disposed so that the electrical deposition o metal on one under electrolytic decomposition will gradually bridge the gap between them.

The anode electrode, designated'by the reference character^10, is disposed at one end of the container; the cathode indicated by the -numeral 12,'is lpositioned in close proximity to the opposite end of the same,

and the container is provided with a suitable electrolyte as will hereinafter be more fully described.

which the container is filled, consists of a solution of the salt of the anode as for example copper sulfate in case the anode -is made o copper, or tin chloride if it is composed of tin.

In the use of the invention, the electrodes are by means of their binding screws, connected in an electric circuit in series with a resistance preferably associated with an electrical device ada ted to be operated only by the approximate y full strength ofthe current produced at the source of electricity. y

The current passing through the electro- Iyte causes the decomposition of the anode under electrolytic action and particles `corre sponding in number to those liberated, are

electrically deposited on the cathode.

trodes 1s thus gradually shortened until they are in -actual contact or at least in short-circuiting vicinity to each other, when the current owing from theanode directly to the cathode is free to pass ull strength to the resistance and reduce or eliminate the same. It will be evident that in this manner, the time of operation of a device with which the resistance is associated, is predetermined by the electrolytic action, and that the time period controlled by said action is determined by the nature, size and relative arrangement of the cti-operating parts of the electrolytic cell. g

Speciiically, the time required after the timer is connected in the circuit, to produce a contact between the electrodes -for the direct passage'o current .between them, depends on the capacity of the container, the original length of gap between the electrodes, the cross-sectional shape of the elec-- trodes, the material of which the electrodes are composed, the strength of the electrolyte, the position of the cathode relative to the end of the-container, and other details of construction all of which are regulatedso that the time-period representedby the electrolytic device may be accurately predetermined.

It is, therefore, possible to produce desired number of timer-units of -dierent time periods properly labeled or otherwise fromeach other lso ,that the,

distinguishe operator may select within awide range of choice, a unit in accordancewith'fthe particular time at which the operationof the electrical time-controlled device is desired.

While it is preferable that the gap between the electrodes be bridged by the adherent deposition on the cathode of particles liberated by partial decomposition of the anode by electrolytic action, it is to,.be.understood that under different conditions, the metal deposited on the cathode may 'be drawn.

wholly from the electrolyte in which case the anode may be inert to elctrolytic action.

ln such a cell, the electrolyte would necessarily have to contain a suiicient quantity of the metallic element to .be liberated Yby decomposition ot the electrolyte and thereby bridge the space between the electrodes.

The application of my invention to an electric bomb .of the type employed in shooting oil wells has been illustrated in Figure 3 of the drawings.

The bomb comprises a' shell 16 of suitable size and form to be lowered into the bore of a well, a'screw-cap 17 forming agwatertight closure at an end thereof, an interior casing 18 loaded with a charge of .high explosive 19, and enclosing a frame 20 above the charge, a battery 21 of the dry-cell type inside the frame, and a pair of electrical ignition caps 22 disposed 1n a recess at the bottom of the casing and projecting into the explosive charge.

The caps are filled with an explosive substance such as fulminated mercury, and they carry at one of their ends in contact with their charges metallic resistance filaments 23 which,only by the approximately full Istrength of the current produced in the battery, are brought to a temperature suiiicient to heat the mercury to a point of decomp'o-s respectively to the positive pole and the negative pole of the battery by conductors 26 and 25S The resistance-filaments of the det- *theI well, and by electrolytic action predeter.

mines-the time at whichV the current will heat the filaments of the caps suificientlyto '7 cause the detonation of the charge of high explosive by the explosion of the fulminate. The preferred form of the timer in which Athe anode is partially decomposed to bridge the space between the electrodes by ,the adherent depositionl of the liberated particles on the cathode, is better adapted for use in connection ywith Ibombs or other devices of similar character than the form in which the anode is substantially inert and the electrolyte supplies the metallic element, since the-use of the latter `form involves the disposition of the voxygen equivalent of the deposited metal, whichA in an enclosed space could not 'b'e accomplished without apparently impractical provisions.

Having thus described my lelectrolytic timer and its application to an electrical time-controlled appliance, it will be a parent that its construction permits of a justment to a degree of accuracy for predetermining the time period of reducing or eliminating a resistance in a circuit in which it is connected, difficult to attain by mechanically operated devices of similar character, and that with the parts of the timerproperly arranged and connected in the circuit, failure in operation and the possibility of premature discharge are wholly eliminated.

What I claim and desire to secure by Letters Patent ist' a 1. An Velectrolytic timer comprising a container, an electrolyte, and spaced electrodes.

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adapted to be connected in a circuit and rela- A tively disposed to bridge the space between .them by the adherent deposition of metal on one under electrolytic decomposition of the other.

3. An electrolytic timer comprising a container, an electrolyte therein,l spaced electrodes one of which contains a metallic element subject to corrosion and rede osition imder electrolytic action, and means or connecting the electrodes in an electric circuit,

' the electrodes being dis osed for co-operation to bridge the space etween them by the adherent deposition on one of particles liberated under electrolytic decomposition.

4. An electrolytic timer comprising a container, an electrolyte therein, spaced electrodes one of which has sufficient corrosive metal to provide material for a bridge across the space by adherent deposition on the other of particles liberated under electrolytic action, and means for connecting the electrodes in a circuit.

5. An electrolytic timer comprising a container, and anode-electrode containing a me'- tallic element subject to corrosion and redeposition, a cathode-electrode spaced from the other, anelectrolyte composed of the salt of the anode metal,' and means for connecting the electrodes in a circuit.

container adapted for co-operation to bridge the space by electrical deposition of metal on one under electrol tic decomposition, and

means externally o the container to connect the electrodes in a circuit.

8. An electrolytic timer comprising a container, an electrolyte therein, spaced electrodes adapted for co-operation to adually bridge the space between them y the electrical deposition of material on one under electrolytic decomposition ofthe other, and means for connecting the electrodes in a circuit.

9. The combination lwith a circuit, of a resistance and an electrolytic cell connected in series therein, the electrolytic cell includ ing two normally spaced electrodes relatively disposed to bridge the space between them by electrolytic decomposition.

10. An electric bomb comprising in combination a shell, an explosive charge, an electrical igniter for the charge, a source of electricity, and an electrolytic timer in circuit with the source and the igniter. p

11. An electric bomb comprising in combination a shell', an explosive charge, a detonating cap for the charge, including an electric resistance, a source of electricity, a circuit connecting the resistance with the source, and an electrolytic timer in the circuit.

12. An electric bomb comprising incombination a shell, an explosive charge, a detonating cap for the charge, including an electric resistance, a lsource of electricity, a lcircuit connecting the resistance with the source, normally spaced electrodes in the` circuit adapted for co-operation to bridge the space by the. electrical deposition of material on one under electrolytic decomposition, a container for the electrodes, and an electrolyte in the container.

In testimony whereof I have aflixed my signature. WARREN F. BLEECKERA 

